Professional teaching qualification accredited by HEA

18 Jan 2016

A professional qualification for teaching staff at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University has been accredited by a British professional body.

The Certificate in Professional Studies (CPS) in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education has been accredited by the Higher Education Academy (HEA), which works to support and continuously develop and improve teaching quality in higher education institutions.

The accreditation means that the CPS programme content is in line with the UK HEA’s professional standards framework, designed to ensure that the teaching taking place in universities provides students with excellent learning experiences. The CPS provides an introduction to the knowledge and skills needed to support student learning.

This is a significant step in the development of the CPS at XJTLU, which is mandatory for all new teaching staff as of 1 September 2015, and demonstrates the programme's ongoing development and quality.

Previously, staff from the University of Liverpool visited XJTLU to deliver the workshops related to the programme. Now the CPS programme is accredited to be delivered completely in-house by the Academic Enhancement Centre (AEC) at XJTLU.

The AEC works to raise the profile of learning, teaching and research within the University in order to influence and develop teaching methodologies that combine best practice from China and internationally.

“This accreditation represents a significant change in the culture of XJTLU, providing a framework for teachers to excel at teaching,” said Dr Dawn Johnson, Director of the CPS programme.

“The accreditation means that not only is the programme considered to be of high-quality, but that we will be able to continue developing it so that it addresses the exceptional context in which XJTLU operates. Elements of it are completely unique to XJTLU and address what it means to teach in this transnational environment.

“It’s increasingly important for professional qualifications such as the CPS to be accredited by a professional body and I am delighted that the HEA has awarded us this accreditation.”

Staff in AEC will continue to work with the University of Liverpool, as well as departments around XJTLU, in order to further develop internal expertise and enhance the programme.

Plans are underway to develop, and gain accreditation for, a Postgraduate Teaching Certificate as well as to offer the CPS programme externally to professionals working in universities across China.

Louise Lumsden, Academic Development Officer at the HEA, said: “We would like to express our congratulations to the team at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University.”

18 Jan 2016